Areas of Competition

Contestants in the Miss District of Columbia pageant compete in these areas:

Private Interview (25% of total score)

​Each contestant participates in an individual 10-minute press conference-style interview with our panel of judges. There are typically 5 to 7 judges on a panel. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheet, their educational and career goals, their opinions on current events and social issues, and their interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities. Scoring is based on overall communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses the overall qualities and attributes of a Miss DC/Miss America.

On Stage Question (20% of total score)

Each contestant will be asked a question on-stage before an audience during the pageant finals. Questions will be different for each contestant and will not necessarily be related to her platform or fact sheet. Questions will be determined by the Miss DC Board to be of relatively equal degree of difficulty. As with the private interview, scoring is based on overall communication skills, including personality, intelligence, validated opinions, emotional control, overall first impression and personal appearance, and whether the contestant possesses the overall qualities and attributes of a Miss DC/Miss America.

Talent (30% of total score)

Contestants perform a 90-second routine of their own choosing. Some possible talents include all types of singing, dancing, gymnastics, instrumental music, dramatic or comedy monologues, baton twirling and ventriloquism. Other talents that can be performed solo on a stage are also possible. Phone or e-mail us if you have a question about your talent presentation. Scoring is based on contestant’s skill and personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence and the totality of all elements, including costume, props, voice, use of body and choreography.

Evening Wear (15% of total score)

Each contestant appears on stage in an outfit of her own choosing, representative of what she would wear to a formal “after five” social event. Pant suits, cocktail dresses and evening gowns are all appropriate for this phase of the competition, although gowns are worn by the vast majority of contestants. Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk and posture, appropriateness of attire and sense of attractiveness.

Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit (10% of total score)

Each contestant briefly appears on stage in a one or two-piece swimsuit (Miss DC Organization decides on designer and color; some flexibility exists to tailor to each contestant) and footwear of her own choosing. Swimsuits must be reviewed and approved prior to competition by the Executive Director of the pageant. Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of physical fitness and health, overall physique which is pleasing to her height, weight and bone structure, walk, posture and grace, sense of confidence and presence on stage.

*Areas of competition and percentages are subject to change by the Miss America Organization.